Dual sewing machine assembly



K. W. KLOSE June 17, 1969 DUAL SEWING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Fild Dec. 21, 1967 Sheet of 2 m T N E V m KLost- Am. W a

y, ATTORNEYS June 17, 1969 K. w. KLOSE 3,450,080

DUAL SEWING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec: 21, 1967 Y 48 J 12 g INVENTOR.

KARL W. KLose ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 112-2172 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dual sewing machine assembly characterized by being movable to alternately position one of the sewing machines in an active position for performing its normal operation in a work area and the other sewing machine in a stand-by position away from the work area for repair or inactivity. The assembly comprises a first stationary member adapted to support the assembly, a second movable member mounted on and carried by the first member and adapted to move linearly with respect thereto, a third movable member mounted on and carried by the second member and adapted to move linearly therewith and to move rotatively with respect thereto, and a pair of sewing machines mounted on and carried by the third member in opposing active and standby positions and adapted to be moved, linearly and rotatively as desired, to reverse the sewing machines occupying the active and standby positions.

This invention relates to a dual sewing machine assembly and more particularly to a mounting assembly adapted to carry a pair of sewing machines or the like and characterized by being movable to alternately position one of the machines in an active position for performing its normal operation in a work area and the other machine in a standby position away from the work area for repair or inactivity.

In the use of sewing machines or the like, particularly in a fully automatic continuous production line apparatus for the fabrication of articles, such as pillowcases, diapers, baby blankets, etc., in which a sewing operation is involved in conjunction with other fabricating operations, it has been the normal practice to mount a single sewing machine at various locations in the overall apparatus for inserting stitching or the like, as desired, during the fabrication of the article being produced. Also, sewing machines or the like have been used in semi-automatic production lines for performing their desired work or operation as material or fabric is passed thereto from a prior operation before being passed on to a subsequent operation.

These automatic and semi-automatic fabrication and manufacturing operations have been successful in increasing efficiency, reducing space, reducing the number of operators, etc. However, they have proved ineflicient when the sewing machine or the like broke down or needed repair for one reason or another inasmuch as stopping the operation of a single sewing machine or the like has necessarily, heretofore, stopped operation of the entire apparatus or production line in which it is utilized.

Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide a dual sewing machine assembly in which one ofthe machines is positioned in an active position for performing its normal operation in a work area and the other sewing machine is in a standby position away from the work area for repair or inactivity and in which the positions of the two machines may be reversed at will to place the inactive sewing machine in the active position and the active sewing machine in the inactive or standby position for repair or inactivity of the previously active sewing machine, so as not to stop operation of the entire apparatus or to stall the production line.

3,450,080 Patented June 17, 1969 It has been found by this invention that the above object may be accomplished by providing a dual sewing machine assembly or a mounting assembly adapted to carry a pair of machines, which comprises a first stationary member adapted to support the assembly, a second movable member mounted on and carried by the first member and adapted to move linearly with respect thereto, and a third movable member mounted on and carried by the second member and adapted to move linearly therewith and to move rotatively with respect thereto. The third member is adapted to carry a pair of machines positioned thereon in opposing active and standby positions and generally parallel with the axis of linear movement thereof, so that both of the machines may be moved linearly away from the work area by linear movement of the second and third members with respect to the first member, then moved rotatively approximately 180 by rotative movement of the third member with respect to the first and second members, and then moved linearly again toward the work area by linear movement of the second and third members with respect to the first member to thereby reverse the machines occupying the active and standby :positions.

Some of the details of this invention having been stated, other details will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dual sewing machine assembly of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the mounting assembly shown in FIGURE 1 and illustrating the separate component parts thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly shown in FIGURE 1 and taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of a first latch means utilized in the assembly of this invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of a second latch means utilized in the assembly of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the dual sewing machine assembly of this invention is referred to therein generally by the reference numeral 10. This assembly comprises a mounting assembly, referred to in the draw ings generally by the reference numeral 11.

The mounting assembly comprises a first stationary member 12in the form of a flat plate having a cut-out in one of the rear corners thereof, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. The member 12 is mounted stationary on any suitable support and, as herein illustrated, is shown welded to a beam 13 of an overall fabricating apparatus. However, it is to be understood that the stationary member 12 may be supported from the floor or other surface by any suitable means including legs, etc. The stationary member 12 is adapted to support the remaining portions of the assembly and includes linearly disposed track means 15 on the upper surface thereof extending along the entire longitudinal axis of the member 12 and being in the form of cut-outs or depressions, as illustrated particularly in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The mounting assembly 11 further comprises a second movable member 20 superimposed on and carried by'the first member 12 and being in the form of a fiat plate of complementary shape to the member 12. The second member 20 also includes a cut-out in one of the rear corners thereof which mates with the cut-out in the member 12. The second member 20 also includes linearly extending track means 21 on the bottom surface thereof which extend along the entire longitudinal axis thereof and are in the form of projections which are adapted to mate with the track means on the first member 12 to permit linear movement only of the second member with respect to the first member 12.

The second member 20 also includes circularly disposed track means 22 on the other or top side thereof in the form of a circular projection or rail secured thereto by rivets or screws, as shown particularly in FIGURE 3.

The mounting assembly 11 further comprises a third movable member superimposed on and carried by the second member 20 and being in the form of a fiat plate of generally complementary shape to the first member 12 and the second member 20. The third member 30 also includes a cut-out in one of the rear corners which mates with the cut-outs in the members 12 and 20 and further includes a cut-out in one of the front corners thereof, for purposes to be described hereinafter. The third member 30 includes circularly disposed track means 31 on the bottom surface thereof in the form of a circular cutout or depression which is adapted to mate with the circularly disposed track means 22 on the second member 20 to permit rotative movement only of the third member 30 with respect to the second member 20. By the above arrangement, the third member is adapted to move with the second member in a linear path of travel with respect to the first member.

The mounting assembly 11 includes a first movable latch means comprising a pair of projecting collars 41 secured to opposite sides of the third member 30 and a complementary projecting collar 42 secured to the second member 20 so that one of the collars 41 and the collar 42 are superimposed on top of each other in either position of the third member 30. A movable latch member 43 is pivotally mounted within the extending legs of the collar 42, as shown in the drawings, and is adapted to be selectively positioned in a latching position, as shown in solid lines in FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, in which the second and third member 20 and 30 are latched together for linear movement with respect to the first member 12 but in which the third member 30 is prevented from rotative movement with respect to the second member 20. The latch member 43 may also be positioned in a non-latching position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, in which the third member 30 is free for rotative movement with respect to the second member 20. Cooperating with the latch member 43 is a spring means 44 suitably attached to the second member 20 by a screw or otherwise and adapted to engage the latch member 43 for maintaining it in either the above-described latching or non-latching positions, as may be seen in the drawings.

Further included in the mounting assembly 11 is a pair of second latch means 45, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, each of which comprises an L-shaped arm 46 secured to opposite sides of the first member 12 and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom and including a bore therein communicating with a slot 48 on one side thereof. Each of the latch means further includes plunger 49 extending through the bore 47 and having an outer end thereon adapted to frictionally engage a V- shaped groove 50 formed along opposite edges of the second member 20 to latch the second member 20 with the first member 12 against linear movement therebetween. The plunger 49 further includes horizontally extending lugs 51 on each side thereof which extend through slots 48 when the plunger is placed in friction engagement with the groove 50. The plunger 49 is biased by spring 52 into friction engagement with the groove 50 and may be selectively withdrawn and placed in a nonlatching position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5, by manually pulling the plunger 49 against the bias of spring 52 so that the lugs 51 are withdrawn from the slots 48. The plunger 49 may then be rotated slightly to position the lugs 51 outside the groove 50 to hold the plunger in non-latching position.

The mounting assembly 11 further comprises an adjustable protruding bolt and nut means including a threaded bolt 55 secured generally centrally of the second member 20 and extending upwardly therefrom through a central opening 56 in the third member 30. A cooperating threaded nut 57 is adapted to be received on the bolt 55 and to be tightened against the third member 30 for securing and centering the second and third members in the desired position or, in the alternative, may be loosened to allow relative movement of the second and third members 20 and 30 with respect to each other, as described above.

The dual sewing machine assembly 10 of this invention further comprises a pair of sewing machines 60 and 61 mounted on and carried by the third member 30 in 0pposing active and standby positions and generally parallel with the axis of linear movement thereof. As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the sewing machine 60 is mounted on one side of the third member 30 forwardly thereof so that the stitching instrumentalities of the sewing machine will extend into the work area, indicated in dotted lines, so that the sewing machine 60 may perform its normal operation in the work area. The sewing machine 60 is driven by a belt 63 which passes around a pulley 64 on the sewing machine and around a pulley 65 connected to a shaft 66 and driven from any suitable means (not shown). The sewing machine 61 is mounted on the other side of the third member 30 in a generally parallel position with the machine 60 but facing in the opposite direction and extending rearwardly of the third member 30. This sewing machine 61 also includes and is driven from a pulley 67.

With the above described assembly, when the sewing machine positioned in the active position is to be moved, for repair or otherwise, from the active position to the inactive position, an operator may manually move both of the machines linearly away from the work area by positioning the first and second latch means 40 and 45 in their non-latching positions and by linear movement of the second and third member 20 and 30 with respect to the first member 12, then manually move the machines rotatively approximately by rotative movement of the third member 30 with respect to the first and second members 12 and 20, and then again manually move the machines linearly toward the work area by linear movement of the second and third members 20 and 30 with respect to the first member 12 to thereby reverse the sewing machines occupying the active and standby positions, so that the machine 61 will now be adjacent the work area and the machine 60 will be rearward of the assembly. For this purpose, the belt 63 will be removed from the pulley 64 of the machine 60 and positioned on the pulley 67 on the machine 61 when the sewing machines 60 and 61 are reversed. This location of the belt 63 on either the pulley 64 of the machine 60 or the pulley 67 of the machine 61 is made possible by the cut-outs in the two corners of the third member 30 and the complementary cut-outs in rear corners of the second member 20 and the first member 12, as illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of this invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual sewing machine assembly characterized by being movable to alternately position one of the sewing machines in an active position for performing its normal operation in a work area and the other sewing machine in a standby position away from the work area for repair or inactivity, said mounting assembly comprising:

(a) a first stationary member adapted to support said assembly;

(b) a second movable member mounted on and carried by said first member and adapted to move linearly with respect thereto;

(c) a third movable member mounted on and carried by said second member and adapted to move linearly therewith and to move rotatively with respect thereto; and

(d) a pair of sewing machines mounted on and carried by said third member in opposing active and standby positions and generally parallel with the axis of linear movement thereof; so that both of said machines may be moved linearly away from the work area by linear movement of said second and third members with respect to said first member, then moved rotatively approximately 180 by rotative movement of said third member with respect to said first and second members, and then moved linearly again toward the Work area by linear movement of said second and third members with respect to said first member to thereby reverse the sewing machines occupying the active and standby positions.

2. A dual sewing machine assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including movable latch means cooperatively disposed on said second and third members and adapted to be placed in a latching position, in which said second and third members are latched together for linear movement with respect to said first member but in which said third member is prevented from rotative movement with respect to said second member, and in a non-latching position, in which said third member is free for rotative movement with respect to said second member.

3. A dual sewing machine assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including movable latch means cooperatively disposed on said first and second members and adapted to be placed in a latching position, in which said first and second members are latched together to prevent linear movement therebetween but in which said third member is free for rotative movement with respect to said first and second members, and in a non-latching position, in which said second member is free for linear movement with respect to said first member.

4. A dual sewing machine assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said first member includes linearly disposed track means thereon, and in which said second member includes linearly disposed track means thereon adapted to mate with said track means on said first member to permit linear movement of said second member with respect to said first member.

5. A dual sewing machine assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said second member includes circularly disposed track means thereon, and in which said third means includes circularly disposed track means thereon adapted to mate with said track means on said second member to permit rotative movement of said third member with respect to said second member.

6 A dual sewing machine assembly characterized by being movable to alternately position one of the sewing machines in an active position for performing its normal operation in a work area and the other Sewing machine in a standby position away from the work area for repair or inactivity, said mounting assembly comprising:

(a) a first stationary member adapted to support said assembly and including linearly disposed track means thereon;

(b) a second movable member superimposed on and carried by said first member and including linearly disposed track means on one side thereof adapted to mate with said track means on said first member to permit linear movement of said second member with respect to said first member and including circularly disposed track means on the other side thereof;

(0) a third movable member superimposed on and carried by said second member and including circularly disposed track means thereon adapted to mate with said circularly disposed track means on said second member to permit rotative movement of said third member with respect to said second member and to allow said third member to move linearly with said second member;

(d) a first movable latch means cooperatively disposed on said second and third members and adapted to be placed in a latching position, in which said second and third members are latched together for linear movement with respect to said first member but in which said third member is prevented from rotative movement with respect to said second member, and in a non-latching position, in which said third member is free for rotative movement with respect to said second member;

(e) a second latch means cooperatively disposed on said first and second members and adapted to be placed in a latching position, in which said first and second members are latched together to prevent linear movement therebetween but in which said third member is free for rotative movement with respect to said first and second members, and in a non-latching position, in which said second member is free for linear movement with respect to said first member; and

(f) a pair of sewing machines mounted on and carried by said third member in opposing active and standby positions and generally parallel with the axis of linear movement thereof; so that both of said machines may be moved linearly away from the work area by linear movement of said Second and third members with respect to said first member, then moved rotatively approximately 180 by rotative movement of said third member with respect to said first and second members, and then moved linearly again toward the work area by linear movement of said second and third members with respect to said first member to thereby reverse the sewing machines occupying the active and standby positions.

7. A mounting assembly adapted to carry a pair of machines and characterized by being movable to alternately position one of the machines in an active position for performing its normal operation in a work area and the other machine in a standby position away from the work area for repair or inactivity, said mounting assembly comprising:

(a) a first stationary member adapted to support said assembly;

(b) a second movable member mounted on and carried by said first member and adapted to move linearly with respect thereto; and

(c) a third movable member mounted on and carried by said second member and adapted to move linearly therewith and to move rotatively with respect thereto, said third member being adapted to carry a pair of machines positioned thereon in opposing active and standby positions and generally parallel with the axis of linear movement thereof; so that both of said machines may be moved linearly away from the work area by linear movement of said second and third members with respect to said first member, then moved rotatively approximately 180 by rotative movement of said third member with respect to said first and second members, and then moved linearly again toward the work area by linear movement of said second and third member with respect to said first member to thereby reverse the machines occupying the active and standby positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,922 10/1906 Norris 112-155 947,605 1/1910 Tillie 1l2.15'5 2,834,307 5/1958 Jones et al.

JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. l12 2, 

